Hawthornes New York Pizza & Bar

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  Hawthornes had an excellent selection of pizza, and food.  We really enjoyed our experience here for lunch.  This the closest we have found to true "NY style" pizza crust.

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  Posted on 07.17.13 Jordan M.

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  My sweetheart and I drove down to get some specialty meat next door and decided to try this pizza place for a late lunch.  We love to try new things.  I found a compact car parking spot in the shade.  (you always have to walk a little further when shade is a priority)  
  There was the option to sit out in a covered patio, but we chose the air conditioned inside.  We were seated immediately.  I had noticed a sticker on the door saying that they are reviewed on Yelp and we had just started using the program.  So I pulled up the app as soon as we sat down, checked in, and rattled off reviews to the hubs.  The waitresses were great.  We got waters and a 9" pesto pizza to share.  I do not presume to know how a NY pizza should be, as do some more experienced pizza critics.  Ours came out very hot and the waitress was checking if it was good even before it was cooled enough to eat. I thought the thin crust was crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.  I liked the pesto, cheese and fresh tomatoes combination.  I thought it had the perfect amount of toppings for such a pizza, but can see how some other reviews think it would be skimpy. I would get this again...or probably try something new.  
  As a mother, I noticed the family-oriented atmosphere.  It intrigued me that the kids got crayons and a color sheet as well as a small ball of pizza dough.  One kids nibbled on the raw dough another used it like clay and was poking holes in it with her crayons.  Then they went to the game room hidden in a corner. I asked our waitress about the balls of dough and she sighed and said they make quite a mess.  I noticed how well they were cleaning the tables though, and did NOT notice any dried dough remnants on my particular table.

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  Posted on 06.29.13 Victoria T.

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  I have loved everything that I have eaten at Hawthorne's - until tonight.  Everything that hit the table was a hot mess that I am sure I will be paying for well into tomorrow.
  
  In the past, I have LOVED their reuben pizza that was a special on St. Paddy's Day, and the white pizza is delicious.  Tonight's order of the spinach artichoke dip and the special white pizza were so not good... not good at all.  
  
  Spinach Artichoke Dip ($8) - overpriced even if it is outstanding, which it is NOT.  Served boiling hot with a layer of cheese on top, I had high hopes.  Under the layer of cheese, which turns into a blob that cannot be portioned once you stir the dip, is more of a soup than a dip.  Thin, under-flavored.  Bad.  The tortilla chips were good though.  
  
  9" Special White Pizza ($9) - Ricotta cream sauce topped with mozzarella, pesto sauce & sundried tomatoes.  As stated before, I love their white pizza, but this was an oil slick of bleh.  Since pesto is made with olive oil, I guess when it is hot on top of a pizza, the oil starts to run for freedom, drenching the top of the pizza in olive oil and making the crust a soggy mess.   I tried to get as much off of it as possible, but it just got all over the bottom crust.  So bad.  This could be a well flavored pizza, but the oil ruined it.  
  
  The manager, who I recognized from our Yelp Elite event, noticed my consternation with the pizza and brought more napkins and some handiwipes for my hands, but the entire meal was a disaster (olive oil doesn't come out of knit tops, btw).   I will return to Hawthorne's eventually, but will never order either of these items again - horrible!

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  Posted on 06.27.13 Amy C.

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  Hawthornes Pizza is good.  I have had the garlic knots, penne alla vodka and multiple types of pizza.  The garlic knots are really good but just a heads up they are really oily.  The penne alla vodka is a pleasant surprise.  I enjoyed it very much and for a pizza based place the pasta has really become one of my favorite items there.  The Sicilian pizza with any toppings is really good.  It's really heavy and I would recommend having 3 or 4 people with you to finish the pizza.  I will be back at Hawthornes and the waiters are really helpful and so is the manager.

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  Posted on 05.22.13 Neal D.

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  Hawthorne's has moved to my neighborhood and I'm a fan! The pizza remains just as good as the other locations and the garlic rolls continue to haunt me even when I try to resist. Good deals on beer and the atmosphere is a nice place to catch the game. Overall, good place to get some NY style pizza.

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  Posted on 03.22.13 Michelle B.

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  This was my second trip to Hawthorne's and both times I was WOW-ed by the service and food.
  
  My first visit to Hawthorne's was for a Yelp event and I was lucky enough to sample many items in the menu. My top favorites were the crispy cajun shrimp, penne a la vodka, all the sandwiches on that homemade fresh baked focaccia bread and let's not forget the pizza! I loved them all but The Crew pizza with sausage, banana peppers and red onions was a real winner for me! I loved the combinations of flavors and would definitely recommend it to anyone!
  
  The staff as well as the manager here were very attentive and nice, it was just an overall great experience!
  
  Well my second visit did not disappoint me! Again, service was excellent and the food was hot and delicious!
  
  I decided to go with take out and ordered the Ultimate Spinach Pizza which has fresh spinach tossed in garlic oil and spices with mozzarella and Gorgonzola cheese.
  
  When I arrived I was greeted immediately and my food was HOT and ready, the cashier and even the manger thanked me for coming in ordering and I was out the door in no time!
  
  The pizza was awesome!!! The spinach had so much flavor with the oil and spices and what's not to love about the mozzarella and Gorgonzola mix...super cheesy and wonderful! And that crust was killer!!! I already love NY style pizza but this crust was passed the crispy test as well as the fold test. I enjoyed every bite! Can't wait to try more of their pizzas!!!
  
  After two great visits I know I will definitely be back! Excellent job, Hawthorne's!!!

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  Posted on 03.01.13 Candyce B.

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  big portions! my wife and I had the chili cheese dip, yup very good! (make sure you bring your tums) turkey club is what i usually get. all around a good atmosphere!

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  Posted on 02.23.13 David M.

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  Probably pretty good if you're a friend of the owner. We had waited for 20 minutes or so when two tables cleared and we were told we would be next. The manager walked over to the now open tables and pulled them together. The young hostess told us we would need to continue to wait as friends of the owner were arriving. The owner certainly has the right to seat whoever he wants whenever he wants, but then again I have a right to comment on it. Hope he has lots of friends who can fill this place up. Lots of good pizza places with much better service.

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  Posted on 02.17.13 Bill G.

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  Had a nice "after church" lunch at Hawthornes with the wife and kids today.  My # 1 Daughter was in one of her moods which was quickly turned around when we entered and she saw the game room and they handed her some pizza dough to play with (SCORE).
  I have never been inside this place before and any of the previous locations, but it seems like a bad design, IMO.  Huge kitchen, hostess stand which seems to me would be better spent with more seating.  I did, however, like the outside area which was heated and tented off.
  The food was excellent.  I had a calzone with 3 toppings.  The cheese was plentiful and the topping were all fresh and well done.  Great flavor, and the side of marinara complemented the meal well.  My kids split the tomato, basil pizza which I had to try and it was very good.  Fresh ingredients make a pizza and this was definitely fresh with a nice garlic flavor which as a full blooded Eyetalian, I appreciate.  My wife had a salad with shrimp which she liked, her comment was that the shrimp wasn't that great and seemed precooked and warmed but the rosemary balsamic dressing and salad, in general was good.
  The service was friendly and attentive.  The waitress knew exactly when to stop buy and saw that my calzone was starting to get a bit messy and either she has a direct line to Sister Cleo or saw the globs of marinara all over my face and brought extra napkins without me having to ask.
  Great location, good food and nice atmosphere all made for an all around good experience.  Well done Hawthornes, we'll be back!

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  Posted on 01.06.13 Mike C.

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  I have eaten here 2 times. Never again! The first time we tried their "NY' pizza. it is NOT NY pizza. The crust was not very good. There are many better choices here in Charlotte for real NY pizza.
  The 2nd time was a couple of days ago when we tried their food. Although the food was good, my wife's salad with chicken ($12) came with no bread. When I asked for bread they immediately brought some. $1.50 was added to my check for the bread and butter.  Paying for bread at a place that bills itself as an Italian restaurant.
  Go here for drinks but go elsewhere for Italian food and pizza

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  Posted on 12.31.12 andy w.

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  We ordered a half white, half buffalo chicken for takeout. Glad we did as the wait was an hour plus when we picked up the pie. White was excellent - I've been looking for a good white slice since moving to Charlotte and this is an excellent option. Buffalo chicken was tasty but I will agree with other reviews that the toppings were spare; light on chicken and buffalo sauce. Overall, we will definitely be ordering pies for take out again in the future.

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  Posted on 12.03.12 Asha R.

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  My husband and I were super excited to see that Hawthornes opened in Ballantyne. We had garlic knots, to die for, and I had a calzone that was phenomenal. The beer selection was great and the atmosphere was wonderful.  We loved our visit and hope to go back soon!

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  Posted on 11.28.12 Jennifer T.

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  I really want to like this place. The location is convenient, the atmosphere is family friendly, the service is good...but the two times we've eaten there we've all felt crappy afterwards...so not going back.

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  Posted on 11.22.12 Wain S.

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  I work in The Village at Robinson Farm, so I was super excited when Hawthorne's opened. It's the perfect restaurant in that location, and they're here to stay. The food is outstanding. I am in love with the caesar salad (add grilled chicken), although their pizzas and other treats are just as good. The wings aren't bad, either! They have a full bar and the atmosphere is a perfect casual spot to land, whether it's after a soccer game, a lunch meeting, dinner on a weeknight, anytime of the day/night. You won't be disappointed.

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  Posted on 11.21.12 Dawn F.

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  Good pizza great pasta but portions are a bit small for the price

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  Posted on 11.18.12 Yo B.

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  One order was burnt, order for 4 year old was wrong and they didn't offer to comp or give bread or cheese bread to hold over.  Had to wait a long time for check to be processed. Considering all of the issues, we were surprised we didn't get a visit from the manager.  Stuff happens, but it has been a while since I've been to a restaurant that handles it so poorly.

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  Posted on 11.18.12 David S.

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  I've been a big fan of Hawthornes Pizza for a while now and was glad to see a location open up closer to home. Great location with convenient parking. The restaurant has a warm cozy feel with high ceilings and a decent sized bar. My favorite is still The Crew pizza and this location did it right, as usual. My kids love that the Pizza Chef will give them dough to play with as we wait for the food. Look forward to coming back soon!

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  Posted on 11.16.12 Himanshu D.

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  We got takeout from this location about two weeks ago.  The crust was crisped without being chewy, and the ingredients were so thin they might have been painted on.  We won't be back.

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  Posted on 10.30.12 Christopher M.

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  Went to check out Hawthorne's last night and the overall experience was a-ok but not outstanding.  It was pretty busy when we arrived so we went to wait at the bar. I ordered a glass of wine and then a bar table opened up... so we were seated there.  
  
  Our server was new and really did not know a lot about the menu yet. However, he talked us into getting an order of garlic knots. I have to say, these were not the best garlic knots.  They were big, yeasty rolls - not exactly what I was expecting.  Unfortunately, I didn't think they served enough marinara sauce on the side to go with the big ole dough-balls.  (I think the garlic knots at Palones Pizza and Marios Pizza are better.)  
  
  For dinner, I ordered a side salad and the veggie pizza with chicken.  The crust was pretty good but the pizza was a little light on sauce and cheese.  I can't say that it is my favorite pizza, but it was reasonably tasty. Unfortunately for them, there is a lot of competition in the local area for pizza & pasta ....including Palones, Lorenzos, Marios, Portofinos, Mellow Mushroom, etc.  
  
  I thought the prices were sort of "meh".... as we dropped about $100 (before tip) for 4 people (we ordered 1 appetizer, 1 sandwich, 1 nine inch pizza, 1 large pizza, 2 beers,  2 glasses of wine).
  
  I would definitely be willing to go back here to give them another shot, but based on this visit, they have not yet earned a spot at top of my list.

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  Posted on 10.22.12 Julia M.

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  Had a FANTASTIC dinner on a Sunday early evening around 5pm with some friends and our kiddos.  We were seated right away at a comfy huge booth.  The kids were given balls of dough to play with (which went a looong way;)  
  
  The calamari was great and spicy wings were outstanding.  Our favorite pizza overall was the Luau and the NY cheese pizza was a close second.  The pulled pork and caramelized onions make the pizza.  (On a side note, we ordered the Luau again for takeout last Sunday...again...amazing!)  The salads and dressings are fresh.  This is huge for me because I hate when we are at a pizza place and the side salad lettuce has that "wilted, out of a bag, treated with chemicals" flavor...this salad had fresh, dark green, clean lettuce.  The ranch is the real deal.  
  
  The ambiance is great and family friendly....but I'd also go there with girlfriends for a night out to get some drinks and pizza.  
  
  The owner was kind enough to stop by our table and chat for awhile.  He wanted to make sure all was well.  
  
  The NY pizza is awesome...I look forward to exploring the menu more!  This is now our "go-to" pizza joint.  Love it!!

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  Posted on 10.10.12 Chris P.

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  Great interior and fantastic service.  Was there for a Thursday lunch.
  
  Shared the Elizabeth special pizza.  Cheese was watery, virtually no sauce, and a bland taste.  Even loaded up with salt, pepper - bland.  Not what I remember from other Hawthorne locatons.  Didn't have time to re-order.

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  Posted on 09.28.12 Curtis W.

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  I was stoked to hear Hawthorne's was coming to the Robinson Farm shopping center. Where some of the other businesses in this little Rea Rd plaza are much more frequented, Hawthorne's has really found themselves a great spot in the South Charlotte hood. Taking over from a previous Italian place, these guys found a perfect location in Ballantyne.
  
  The interior has great appeal. High ceilings, open seating, plenty of bar tables and stools, booths, and standard four-seaters. Love the L-shaped format, as it makes a central area for servers/expos to run food. No odd bottleneck near the restroom entrances.
  
  Another brilliant aspect, if any of you know Hawthorne's on 7th and have experienced the droves of families with multiple children parading the entire restaurant, is the separate game room. Big windows so you can keep an eye on the little ones, a TV playing kids movies to keep them entertained and plenty of games. Great call.
  
  The food, per usual Hawthorne's, is great. Tried the "bottlecaps" or jalapeño poppers for the first time. No cheese on these bad boys. Just friend jalapeño slices. Brilliant! Now, they just need to score the jalapeño pale from Birdsong. Then we'll be on to something!
  
  They have really become the great "neighborhood pizza joint" in town. Had the Luau pizza, half sans protein, last night and it was great. Also, we sampled a pasta special reminiscent of a scampi that was divine as well. Fettuccine, chicken, gorgeous fresh basil, peppers, and satueed onions. Pretty heavy meal, so we had leftovers. Who doesn't love cold pizza in the morning? Also, any place with PBR on draught is a win in my book.
  
  Had the pleasure of meeting Chef and one of the owners during the meal. Both great guys.
  
  Can't wait to come back and sit on the patio. Caught wind that the patio will be heated for outdoor seating during the cold months. Winning.
  
  Cheers!

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  Posted on 09.20.12 Benjamin G.

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